Smoke indicator



H. A. HORNER SMOKE INDICATOR Oct. 4, 1932.

Filed March 16, 1931 INVENTOR Patented Oct. 4, 1932 PATENT OFFICE,

HAROLD A, HORNER, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA SMOKE INDICATOR Application filed March 16, 1931. Serial No. 523,009.

My invention relates to a smoke'indicator adapted for connection with'a flue bridge establishing communication between the I combustion chamber and the smoke stack, of

any type of; combustion'apparatus.

The primary object of theinvention 1s to provide a smoke indicator .of the character described, which will function automatically .to indicatetoan observer, stationed at the 10 combustionapparatus, the density of the by products of combustion passing from the combustion chamber to the associated smoke stack, so that the operator, withsuch knowledge, is intelligently enabled to properly ibregulate' or control the furnace apparatus;

for maximum efficiency on a minimum fuel vconsumption.

'- Other objects of the invention are to provide a device of the class stated, which may Tcbe'readily mounted imposition on a flue bridge already erected, which requires no changes to associated structures and no additional materials or parts except that embodied in the invention itself, which is simple 1 s in its construction and arrangement, durable andoeflicient in its use, attractive in appearance, compact, positive in its action, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture,

install, operate andmaintain.

"ao" NVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement ofparts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes inthe precise embodiment of the invention hereinafter disclosed can be made within thescope ofwhat is claimed with.-

"rrr tion. l V J t In the drawing wherein like numerals of reference 1 designate "corresponding parts throughout the several views p H Figure 1' is a front elevationalview of a smoke indicator constructed in accordance with the invention. Figure 2 is asectional view on line 2-2, v Figure 3, which latter is a top plan view of the device. c 60- Referring'indetail to the drawing, 1 deoutdeparting from .thespiritof the inven-:

light tube 9.

notes a cylindrical flue bridge, which may be constructed to conform to any type of flue bridge commonly employed for establishing-communication between the combustion Y chamber of'a combustion apparatus and its 6 associated smoke stack.

My improved smoke indicator comprises a light casing 2 providing a reflector chamber 3, anda vision casing {1 providing a reflector chamber 5. The light casing 2 is formedwith 60 a reduced inner end 6, which is permanently and rigidly fixed to one side of the flue bridge l in any suitable manner. The inner end 6, of the light casing 2, is open thereby establishing communication between the reflector chamber 3 and the flue bridge 1.

The vision casing 4 is carried in position by a cylindrical supporting tube 7, having an enlarged inner end 8, which is permanently and rigidly fixed to the flue bridge, 1, in any 70 suitable manner, at a point diametrically opposed to the reduced open end 6 of the light casing 2. The supporting tube 7 is open at both of its ends, and establishes communica- 7 tion between the flue bridge 1 and the reflector 75 chamber 5 of the vision casingt.

The light casing 2 with its reduced inner end 6, and the vision casing 4 with its sup-, porting tube 7, are all longitudinally aligned relatively to each other and extend horizontally on respective sides of the flue bridge 1.

The light casing'2 is provided with a light tube 9, which extends vertically upward from the top of the'former. The lower end of the light tube 9 is open to communicate with the reflector chamber 3. k An electric lamp 10 is positioned in the light tube 9 and carried in a socket 11, which is fixed in a supporting plate 12. The latter is removably mounted against the outer wall M of the light tube 9 by suitable attaching elements 13. The outer wall of the light tube 9 is formed with an aperture 14.- for the passage of the lamp 10 'therethrough into the as The upper end of the light tube 9 is open and provided with a flanged cover 15. A portion of the latter depends into the open upper end of the light tube 9' in close proximity above the lamp 10 and has a polished inner 1 face to provide a lamp reflector 16, for di recting the lightfrom thelamp down- 7 wardly through'thelight tube 9 and into the reflector'chamber 2. v V

jA'mirror reflector 17 is removably mounted in the chamber 3 and disposed outwardly at'its upper end at an angle of approximately forty-flve degrees. The mirror reflector 17 -'is maintained in position directly beneath the open lower end of the light tube 9, by suitable guide members 18, which are fixed;

'to respective side wallsnof the light casing 2.7 The r'nir'ror reflector 17 is inserted into the light casing 2 through aslot 19 formed in the top of the latter, and extends trans Versely throughout.theawidth ofi'the chamnor-thelight tube- 9, and of the reflector mir- 'ror 17. The transparent --lens 20 is mainta-ined' in positionlby guide members 21, which the; chamber The front. side wallof thelight casing 2 Wis formed with an opening 23, which is-pro- V vided with a removablecap' 2 1. The removal of; the latter facilitates the'frequently re- :qui-red cleaning of the transparent lens ,20

throughrthe opening 23, without necessitataing-g thejremovali of saidlens 20- from the light casing 2. The-transparent lens 20, while preferably sealed in position to prevent the passage of any extraneous matter past same, is re'movable to permit its replacement when required.

1 Another'mirror' refleetor is removably' f "mounted in thechamberfi, ofthe vision cas ing 4. The mirror reflector 25 is disposed inwardly atitsupper end at an angleof approximately sixty degreesnand'extends tra11sversely-throughout the entire width of the chamber 5. V The 1nirror reflector-25is insert- T ed into the chamber 5 through slot 26' ,form'edin,the tQpFof-the vision easing 4, and-maintained in positionby guide members i Y 27', whichiare fixedto respective side walls of thev-isioncasing 4.

Al'vis'ion tube 28jhaving open upper and: .lowerend's, depends vertically fromtheboi tom -ofqthe visiongcasing- 4:, directly beneath the angular'hy disposed mirror reflector 25.

Afltransjlucent viewing lens 29, preferably constructed'from frosted glass," is {mounted infposi't'i'on, on a pair roof-guide members 31,,

horizontally in the vision tube 28 and extends which are fixed to respective end walls of said Vision tube 28.

Thew translucent lens 29,-whi le'removable when required, is preferably sealed in'position to render same impervious to the passage of light and of any extraneous matter past same. The supporting tube 7 lncludes a shiftableouter portion 32, of well known.

construction, to allow the sideway adjustment of the vision tube 28 when focusing the latter to accommodate the view of the observer. Such adjustment does not disturb the longitudinal alignment of light and ,vision chambers 31 and, 5.

it will be. Ottawa the light chamber), vision'cha'mber and vision. tube 28 are preferably rectangular in; transverse cross se'c- V I may bevaried to best meet conditions,,witharefixedto respective sidewalls of thelight" casing; 2. The transparent lens 20 is inserted 'into' the-,lightcasing 2 through a slot 22" formed in the top-of the latter and also 6X: tends transversely throughout the width of out departing from the spirit of the invention.

, The'slots 20 and 22 inthe light casing 2, and the slots26 andBO inthe-vi'sioncasing 4, are preferably covered, in; anysuitable manner torender same impervious to the passage of :the' light therethrougln as 'such passage oflight would tend to diminishthe-efilciencyof the. device. V

In practice, the operation of my improved I smoke indicatoris asfollows -The. lamp 10 is illuminated, and the. light rays therefrom 1 will be directed against the mirror reflector 17 in thechamber 3 byfthe reflector 16 The light rays will be reflected from the mirror reflector 17" in the'chamber 3 to the mirror reflector 25 in thee-hamber 5.. The light rays, in being reflected from the mirror reflector tothe mirror reflectorr25, are intensified bypassing through the transparent lens 20 and further accentuated in passing through the reduced casing e ds; I The -light rays penetratethe smoke passing through the flue bridge 1 and are amplified on entering the enlarged end 8 of the supporting tube 7 passing through the latter into thechamber 5 and: against the mirror reflector 25'. V

'The observer gazes upwardlyinto the vision' tube28 at the translucent lens 29 toac quaint himself as to thelcondition of the smol'ze then passing through the fluebridge 1;

The degree ofbrilliancy' ofthe light "showing through the translucentlens 29 is the factor or basiswhich determinesthe condition of the smoke. If thejlatteris very-dense the light showing through the translucent, lens 29 will obviously be 1 correspondingly idim, While if the smoke'contains less carbon the light willbec correspondingly brighter. f In viewing the lightthrough a translucentlens 29, as stated, variations in the degree 0t 'bril liancy ofthe light are very-much more pronounced than if viewed through a transparent lens. 7

" The present invention provides a most ef-' ficient device of its kind, which will acquaint the operator of exact combustion conditions,

resulting in the economical and efiicient op eration of the combustion apparatus equipped therewith. What I claim is:

In combination, a smoke indicator comprising a light casing having a reduced innor end commun'i-cably joined with the flue bridge of a combustion apparatus, a vision casing, a supporting tube carrying said vision casing at the outer end thereof and having an enlarged inner end communicably joined with the flue bridge, said lightcas'ing and said'vision casingbeing horizontally aligned relatively to each other on respec tive sides of the flue bridge, a light tube mounted on the top of said light casing and having its vlower end opening into the latter, an illuminating element removably supported in said light tube, a top cover for said light tube having a reflectingsurface on its under slde, an inclined mlrror reflector having 1ts upper end disposed outwardly mounted in said light casing outwardly of said light tube, a vertically extending transparent lens mounted in said light casing and being disposed inwardly of said light tube, an in 'clined mirror reflector having its upper end disposed inwardly mounted in said vision casing, a vision tube depending vfrom the bottom of said vision casing and having its upper end opening into the latter, and a horizontally extending translucent lens mounted in said vision tube, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth. 7

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

' HAROLD A. HORN ER. 

